09/29/2024
Sometimes nature gives you a gift, but not wrapped exactly the way you wanted. I sat for over two hours waiting for this leopard to descend from her perch up in a tree. Other safari vehicles came and went, but our guide was convinced she would eventually come down, and it would be worth the wait (thanks Nick!!!). He was right, and it certainly was! However, the background sky was pure white due to exposing for her in the shade of the tree. When life gives you lemons, you can try to make lemonade. In this case, I took the original high-key image (which I still love!) and decided to treat it to a course of blending, masking and texturing to yield what my imagination saw. While AI may generate a similar image within seconds, my original photograph took several hours of work to re-create the thrill I felt as this beautiful animal came down to stretch!
This image will be available on my website, www.virtualimages.net, in both the New Releases and Digital Art galleries. Be sure to take advantage of my FALL2020 discount code for 20% off any purchases made by 12/22/2024!
